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DID YOU KNOW… black farmers have misplaced round $326 Billion in farmland? Sure, you learn that appropriately, “B” as in billions. That is funds, wealth, in addition to companies that would have been handed on to future generations. As a substitute, virtually every little thing has been ripped away from the black neighborhood on this trade. Nonetheless, The Watermelon Challenge is bringing this atrocity and plenty of others into public view.
That is essential, as a result of many have no idea about true black historical past. Erasure is the secret; and is sadly very efficient. So many people undergo life not understanding that many poor, black communities are the results of not “laziness” or “unintelligence;” however systemic oppression and cruelty.
Tv community, PBS, put collectively a complete report on black farming and introduced forth some fairly telling revelations (learn extra right here). PBS explains, “Black farmers battle in face of structural racism and financial headwinds. The variety of self-identified Black farmers in america has dwindled over the past century, partly due to overt discrimination by the U.S. Division of Agriculture.”
Within the 1920’s black farmers hit of peak of 1 million. They’re thriving, and doing okay. Nonetheless, issues rapidly change.
By the 90’s, lower than a 100 years later, it’s a utterly completely different story. Discriminatory lending practices on the federal degree, significantly on the U.S. Division of Agriculture, leaves many Black farmers unable to take care of their land; thus forcing them to provide it up. White farmers and buyers come alongside and snap these properties up.
Moreover, the best tactic proves to be the creation of varied legal guidelines. A transfer to “legally” take land away. From the 20’s onwards discriminatory heirs’ property legal guidelines contribute to huge financial loss. By 1990’s, black farmers lose 90 p.c of their land and property. All gone.
This a really unhappy end result. Nonetheless, the one option to repair this drawback is to deliver consciousness to it. That’s put on The Watermelon Challenge is coming into play.
The Watermelon Sofa: Highlighting the Work of Black farmers, Artists, and Historians
Muralist, Artist, and Educator, James Shields of Artistic Shields is taking his Juneteenth sculpture, “The Watermelon Sofa”, on the street to doc the work of Black farmers, artists, and historians.
The Watermelon Sofa was designed to encourage folks to take a better have a look at their meals sources and fight the racial stereotypes which have plagued the Black neighborhood for the reason that late 1800s.
“I created the Watermelon Sofa final 12 months for a Juneteenth Celebration in Oakland, CA.” Shields stated. “As soon as it was accomplished I knew it was meant to inform highly effective tales. I’m simply capturing and sharing.”
Shields, a self-taught artist, left company America in 2009 to dedicate his life to creating and amplifying his neighborhood. A lot of his earlier artwork pilgrimages had been avenue artwork excursions that allowed him to color murals all through Europe, Africa, and South America. Now his consideration is ready on the States.
“This Summer time I’m bringing the sofa to the Deep South – the birthplace of Juneteenth and Jim Crow.” stated Shields. “Our neighborhood continues to be coping with numerous the trauma due to systemic racism with agriculture and popular culture. I supply this multi-media challenge as a treatment to heal by way of storytelling.”
Shields is at present crowdfunding $20,000 to develop the Watermelon Sofa right into a digital multi-media library. Consisting of interviews, advantageous artwork, and animations, these as studying instruments will support in educating environmental meals justice, historical past, and artwork schooling.
Contribute to the Watermelon Sofa GoFundMe
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